Image Credit: tn.gov
Published March 26, 2021
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Nashville, TN – Yesterday, March 25th, Representative Bruce Griffey (R) from Paris, Tennessee was stripped of all his committee assignments by House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) from Crossville, TN.
Sexton made the announcement at the end of Thursday’s House session from the House Speaker’s seat.
WSMV reported the following from Sexton’s statement, “There are certain expectations that must be met by members of the Tennessee House of Representatives. These include maintaining decorum and professionalism, as well as respect for others, and perhaps most importantly, respect for our longstanding committee process. If any or all of these expectations become an issue, appropriate actions will be taken – including removing a member from his or her committee assignments.”
Sexton removed Griffey from the Civil Justice, Criminal Justice and Education Instruction Committees.
According to a report from the Tennessee Journal, the move came after Griffey’s unsuccessful attempt earlier this week to pull an e-verify bill that had earlier been defeated in a subcommittee straight to floor.
The bill in question was HB 0801.
As introduced, the House Bill 0801 requires certain employers to utilize an e-verification program in hiring; removes immunity for an employer’s reliance on other forms of verification; makes other related changes. – Amends TCA Title 50, Chapter 1.
The last action on the bill was March 10th, when it failed in the Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee.
However, it’s sister bill, Senate Bill (SB 0902) passed on second consideration and was referred to the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee on February 22.
Griffey released the following statement about his removal from the committees:
“Cameron Sexton has not had any communications with me about the removal or the reasons behind it.
I can only surmise that it is punishment for me bringing a Rule 53 Motion so all members of the House could vote on whether they want to expand the use of E-Verify in Tennessee in order to protect Tennesseans from being stripped of jobs in favor of illegals and to keep the wages of working Tennessee citizens from being suppressed by the illegal labor, particularly with the border crisis.
It could also be because I have voiced opposition to the Governor’s ‘soft on crime’ legislation and moved last night in the Criminal Justice Committee to send it to Summer Study.
It could also be punishment for me disclosing to the public what is happening in committee hearings on bills. They don’t want transparency in government, but rather want to hide behind voice votes with no accountable record so voters don’t truly know what happens.
The clear message being sent is that if you don’t ‘go along to get along,’ then you will undoubtedly be punished.
Cameron Sexton clearly does not want legislators at the Capitol who think independently and are unwilling to be puppets to a larger puppet master.
God forbid a legislator actually try to be a real voice for his constituents and actually try to do what he campaigned to do. If Tennesseans knew what really happens at the Capitol, they would be horrified.
I submit that what is happening is childish antics that I thought only kids engaged in on an elementary school playground. Ironically, when I came to work on Tuesday morning after my Rule 53 Motion Monday night, my access card no longer worked.
I don’t think this is the ‘leadership’ Tennessee citizens deserve. Sexton mistakenly assumes that he is attacking me, but in reality, he is attacking the Republican Party, all Tennesseans and the very form of our government.
I don’t think the people of Tennessee want to live under a dictatorship. It is a destruction of what is supposed to be a representative former of government and a complete violation of First Amendment speech rights – not just mine, but of the thousands of people who elected me to be their voice.
It is no secret that I have been a long-time Trump supporter and remain a Trump supporter. What is happening to me is no different than what happened to Trump when he went up against the Establishment wing of the Republican Party.”
15 Responses
Isn’t there supposed to be some sort of process and hearing? What can we do to support Senator Griffey!?
Krista, if you find out let me know please. Speaker Sexton is from my district. I have voted for him several times. Perhaps the next time I will vote for someone a little more conservative. I can and will work to sway other voters to my way of thinking. Thank you.
Why would Tennessee not want to require e-verify to protect qualified workers from being replaced by illegal immigrants?
Ugh…politicians! Corrupt from the ground up. Hats off to Rep. Griffey for sounding the alarm. The establishment is quick to shut down anyone who tells the truth about how things really work while the constituents are working and unable to keep an eye on things. That’s what you call real representation!
How do I as a citizen get more involved in state government and support more people that think like Senator Griffey.
There has to be more to the story as to why he was removed. I wonder what Mr Sexton has to say in clarification. All for transparency in Government action.
I agree. All we have here is Senator Griffey’s side of the story. Sexton should come out with the reasons behind his actions. The public would be bored to tears if everything that goes on in government was reported back to them, but when an action affects the activities which a public servant was elected to perform, his constituents should hear about the background.
You are wise to ask. KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS of him & go to the proof. Read the bill. (He is NOT a Senator.) Most of his antics can be viewed on video. The process is as transparent as you have time for. There is a YUUUGE other side to this story. In the Paris Post Intelligencer article he tells you exactly why he orchestrated this entire martyrdom setup at the expense of the party & those of us true conservatives working around him. I hoped this outlet wouldn’t be as lazy as all the others & only take the talking points of ONE participant & publish as factual. Disappointed; & this is my very first article of theirs to read!
I think it may have to do with him supporting the prevention/removal of LGBT material in education. He states several other possible reasons for being removed from committees but being against LGBT education along with other stances probably was the cherry on top for whomever was looking to remove him. It’s a shame! We need representation like this man who is doing what he told constituents he would do. It’s time we all show our teeth and remind these lawmakers that they answer to us, not the other way around. We have to take our country back. There is no time to sit around and hope somebody saves the day for us.
This sounds like what Pelosi, Schumer and Schiff did behind closed doors during the Trump hearings. I hope Governor Lee gets this taken care of and Griffey reinstated. This sounds like secret meetings and plannings behind the other members backs. Please stop this immediately and have an open policy for all meetings.
I have to agree with you. The left is doing things against our Bill of Rights and our Constitution. and they need to let go of their positions. It’s totally NON AMERICAN.
I agree with Krista.
Contact Cameron Sexton’s office and let him know you will be financially supporting his opponent in the next election. And that you want our representative reinstated to his positions.
An East Tennessee RINO weasel versus a true West Tennessee conservative.
Sounds to me like Speaker Sexton needs to be taught a lesson about not supporting a conservative agenda in a red state. Perhaps the next election will teach him that lesson? In the meantime, is there anyone who could override the speaker’s decision on this matter? Perhaps Governor Lee?